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The Orakpo Plan: 'He's Going to Play'

After a 2008 season in which the rookies largely faltered, Washington Redskins Coach Jim Zorn proclaimed that whomever the team selected 13th overall in April's draft would have to contribute immediately. Now, with the first round of the draft completed and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo the newest Redskin, that will likely require some juggling from the coaching staff.

Orakpo's speed and 11 1/2 sacks as a senior endeared him to team officials seeking to upgrade their pass rush, but Orakpo could alternate at linebacker and end as he learns the NFL game. Zorn said yesterday that Orakpo would come in as a left defensive end, but during his visit to Redskins Park Orakpo spent considerable time breaking down film with linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti and figured he could end up spending more snaps as a strong-side linebacker.

"It's all about the packages that I can bring to the table," Orakpo said in a conference call with the media. "In talking to coach K.O., the linebacker coach, he really likes me and sees me as a SAM [strong-side] backer on first and second [down], and when it's time to get after it on third-and-long or whatever the situation is, I'll get down in a [three-point] stance and rush the passer and do what I do best. That's the thing about me, I bring a lot of versatility to the table."

Orakpo, 22, now may be 6-foot-3, and weigh 263 pounds, but he entered college as a slight basketball player and transformed himself through legendary workouts. The Redskins began considering him at the combine -- executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said the team had him ranked in the top five of the draft -- and pegged him as a no-brainer selection at 13, if he were still available and if there were unable to trade up to land quarterback Mark Sanchez.

On the left side, where Orakpo will play, Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn, both near the end of their careers and best as rotational players, stand before him on the depth chart. While both are very strong, and excel against the run, they have battled age and injury and counting on them to be productive all season long is a gamble. Orakpo, who had knee sprains each of the last two seasons and missed four games as a senior, is like a younger, quicker version of Daniels in many respects, but must make major strides in his run stopping.

"He's got an explosive takeoff, explosive sped and the ability to get the corner," Cerrato said. "He can bend that corner once he gets around the tackles. He doesn't take extra steps."

Defensive coordinator Greg Blache's system has been predicated on his linemen absorbing blockers and allowing the linebackers to make plays, and with Wynn and Daniels suited to that, Orakpo playing strong-side linebacker on running downs makes sense. Even at linebacker, he will need work at the point of attack, with one NFL scout who evaluated him suggesting he be stunted with some regularity.

"That wasn't his forte," Zorn said of stopping the run. "He was really an edge rusher, so there are some of things he's going to be working on."

Orakpo could suffer as a linebacker in passing situations, with limitations in coverage ("I don't think he can cover unless he spot drops in zone coverage," the scout said), and plays "stiff," according to scouts, not as fluid as would be ideal. "It limits his change in direction in coverage responsibilities, and limits his bend and dip in speed pass rushing," the scout said.

No matter at which position, or on which downs, the Redskins are dedicated to getting him as many snaps as possible. A year after their top three picks barely took the field, nothing less will be tolerated.

"It's all about the packages that I can bring to the table," Orakpo said in a conference call with the media. "In talking to coach K.O., the linebacker coach, he really likes me and sees me as a SAM [strong-side] backer on first and second [down], and when it's time to get after it on third-and-long or whatever the situation is, I'll get down in a [three-point] stance and rush the passer and do what I do best. That's the thing about me, I bring a lot of versatility to the table."

This Blache's plan for him. Zorn doesn't do defense.

Zorn said yesterday that Orakpo would come in as a left defensive end, but during his visit to Redskins Park Orakpo spent considerable time breaking down film with linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti and figured he could end up spending more snaps as a strong-side linebacker.

Clearly Zorn and Blache appear to have communication issues. Doesn't bode well for Zorn's longevity with the Skins. Haynesworth will likely end up at LDE on passing downs because of that is what got him all of those sacks last year. Not sure how Orapko will do at SLB since he is not good in pass coverage and has problems at the point of attack ... (read bad at stopping the run a mortal sin in Blache's defense ... definitely one that will preclude any playing time at LDE.

JLC is such a sad m.f.er. All he can do is highlight this dude's weaknesses? Can't we just have one positive day for a change? I know the O-Line is still weak, but shouldn't we be happy we got this awesome athlete?

As the flames high into the night to wreath you with their sacrificial light ... the day your ignorance died ... they were saying bye bye Dirty Sanchez Snidely's spanking delight ... took his sorrows to Il Mulino where the music was right ... with his good ol' boyz spanking over and over to his right ... singing this will be the day that I die

"executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said the team had him ranked in the top five of the draft -- and pegged him as a no-brainer selection at 13, if he were still available and if there were unable to trade up to land quarterback Mark Sanchez." JLC

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Doubt Vinny said that last part...wonder who this scout was that gave JLC the skinny on Orakp?

As the flames high into the night to wreath you with their sacrificial light ... the day your ignorance died ... they were saying bye bye Dirty Sanchez Snidely's spanking delight ... took his sorrows to Il Mulino where the music was right ... with his good ol' boyz spanking over and over to his right ... singing this will be the day that I die

Posted by: periculum

Dude, you're soundin' so over the top macho, I bet you listen to Village People..

Dude, you're soundin' so over the top macho, I bet you listen to Village People..

Posted by: frak | April 25, 2009

Nah, of course I listen to Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change band .. put a quarter in the juke boogey till you puke its always Christmas at K-mart with the Blue Light special at draft time with Snidely and Vinny and their pals.

ya hopefully loadhalt and caldwell (center from bama) slip to the third and the skins can grab em

Ramses should be about a 4th-5th rd pick, skins should snatch him up if hes available in the 5th as they will prolly get rid of ARE and thrash in the coming years, not to mention moss is gettin up there in years...would be a nice compliment to DT11 and MK12

ya hopefully loadhalt and caldwell (center from bama) slip to the third and the skins can grab em

Mission accomplished ... if that be the case.

Ramses should be about a 4th-5th rd pick, skins should snatch him up if hes available in the 5th as they will prolly get rid of ARE and thrash in the coming years, not to mention moss is gettin up there in years...would be a nice compliment to DT11 and MK12.

Look at Ramses as a "west coast" replacment for Cooley. Cooley would fit better in St. Louis in that offense. Best for all concerned. Cooley would like it better there ... but I doubt that the red-hot, smokin' wife would ... ~smiles~

"executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said the team had him ranked in the top five of the draft -- and pegged him as a no-brainer selection at 13, if he were still available and if there were unable to trade up to land quarterback Mark Sanchez." JLC

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Doubt Vinny said that last part...wonder who this scout was that gave JLC the skinny on Orakp?

Posted by: Curzon417 |

Kipe had said he was a top 6 pick but they still didn't really want to give the Skins credit for the pic which made me laugh

Dooood if you don't know about Hank Dietl's or Pop Dietl's that be very bad indeed. Ya ain't never "seed" a line drive homer smashed into RFK's walls by Hondo, and ya ain't never seed super jew Mike Epstein. Ya don't know the Toddle House of Billy and Sonny and ya don't know the swimmin' holes out by sugar loaf. And ya don't doodly squat about Montgomery County which of course used to be a part of PG but that be another tale.

I don't think Mel Kiper and Todd McShay pay any credence to anything Jason says. Not without their own sources verifying it. And both picked Sanchez to go to the Skins at #13. Not one but TWO. That is not a coincidence people. That is not Jason's doing that has Daniel Snyder the Snidely Owl of Woodward High written all over it. And call me delusional but I strongly suspect that this blog had a bit to do with his reluctance to go through with it.

periculum has issues (are you "Serf" the wheelchair bound DJ I used to avoid/dance at Rootboy concerts?), but he might be right about Ramses: that guy looks BOMB, Skins should look seriously into that dude, okay they did, nevermind we need OT talent...LOAD UP..

Periculum \Pe*ric"u*lum\, n.; pl. Pericula. [L.] (Rom. &
O.Eng. Law)1. Total Asshat2. Danger; risk.3. Total Asshat4. In a narrower, judicial sense: Asshat or casus, as
distinguished from dolus and culpa, and hence relieving
one from the duty of performing an obligation.5. Total Asshat

Posted by: carver9 | April 25, 2009

Eeeeeeeeeeeevilllllll laugh .... bwahahahahahha!

The adjuration to be "normal" seems shockingly repellent to me; I see neither hope nor comfort in sinking to that low level. I think it is ignorance that makes people think of abnormality only with horror and allows them to remain undismayed at the proximity of "normal" to average and mediocre. For surely anyone who achieves anything is, essentially, abnormal. -- Dr. Karl Menninger, "The Human Mind", 1930

Periculey, why do you call Dan Snyder "Snidely"? And why do you refer to him as an owl? Aren't owls wise? Are you calling Dan Snyder wise? And why do you feel the need to bold most of your comments? Do you think that everything you say is more important than what everyone else is saying?

I think a majority of the people who read this blog find you obnoxious. Does anyone disagree, other than Periculey?

Who the hell is Sebastian Vollmer? Something tells me the Patriots know something that no one else anywhere on the planet knows ... or perhaps that it makes sense to draft a 6'7" OT who runs a 5.0+ 40 ... because the other highly rated one is a drunk.

Periculey, if calling Dan Snyder "Snidely" somehow made sense as an insult, I could see your point about getting under his skin. But it doesn't make any sense - its just a made up word that you're somehow hoping will be insulting.

How did you come up with such a nickname? Where did it come from? I'm really curious as to why you stick to it so loyally, as if it's the most clever and insulting nickname in the history of bad nicknames.

Periculey, if calling Dan Snyder "Snidely" somehow made sense as an insult, I could see your point about getting under his skin. But it doesn't make any sense - its just a made up word that you're somehow hoping will be insulting.

How did you come up with such a nickname? Where did it come from? I'm really curious as to why you stick to it so loyally, as if it's the most clever and insulting nickname in the history of bad nicknames.

Sherrod Martin? It occurs to me now that it probably makes sense that the Skins don't have alot of early round picks to play with, esp. b/c my guess is that RI is their scouting machinery. Btwn Sebastian Vollmer and Sherrod Martin, I gotta think there are a couple of GMs out there who hope they found the "hidden gems" in the second round ... and some WTF local fans.

It would have been nice to have had that 2nd rounder this year -- especially in a pretty solid draft; however, the Orakpo pick at #13 overall is hard to argue with. Thanks is probably due in part to Al Davis for just being Al Davis, but Orakpo is a selection that addresses an immediate need and doesn't sacrifice talent in the process.

You hear some saying the Sanchez thing was misdirection. I'd hope so, I guess. But what's next did Snyder pay off the Bills to get Dockery back? Did he pay them to pick Aaron Maybin 2 spots ahead of Orakpo? It'll make your head spin pondering all the things Republicans are up too. I'm just tired of min. wage or 2x, 3x meaning trailer park, abortion class living.

chavez66: I totally hear you, but Maybin is only a sophomomore, Orakpo a senior, it made sense to pick him first...No lie, they "handled" my family to steal our house, there is NOTHING , in my experience, that Repub Mafios won't do to rip you off, (sorry decent Repubs)..

If it makes you feel any better the Phins blew the pick out their shorts:

"White is yet another player who doesn't have a great fit at the NFL level. He isn't tall or accurate enough to develop into an every-down quarterback and he is a raw receiver who is going to have to learn how to run routes before pushing for playing time in that kind of role.

I just want to congratulate all you fellows who said it would be Sanchez to the Skins... we're as accurate as ever around here.

Posted by: Samson151 | April 25, 2009 10:27 PM

I think you have to separate the chatter from the venting. A lot of posters wanted an excuse to vent about Snyder and they did so by hating on him for trading up to get Sanchez even though if you forced them to put their $$$ where their mouth was they would have backed off.

Posted by: chasgiffen
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Hmmm. The games I've watched they played OT and they're listed as OTs on NFL.com. But hey, we need Guards too. We need depth at every position on the line.

The OT to watch out for, who may be there at #80 is Jason Watkins, (Fla.) Long arms, big hands and played in a good offensive system and may slide to us..OLB, Marcus Freeman, Ohio St. Still there too..

hahah how much does JLC hate the redskins? It's so evident in everything he writes. Orakpo falling to us was one of the bigger steals of the first round and he chooses to litter this article about what he can't do. We had one of the worst pass rushes in the league last year and we picked up the best pass rusher in the draft. It was a great move for the redskins. If he could really defend the pass he would have gone 3 to KC. At 13 it's a great pick. JLC can't even bring himself to say that. I guess silence is a positive, haha.

Announcer says, "Sadly, in their first game of the regular season, the New York Giants are going to have to find options at quarterback, as starting QB Eli Manning was pulled apart like last Thanksgiving's wishbone in what can only be described as the most violent play ever to be recorded on film. Washington's two new defensive additions combined to record a total of seven sacks in what can only be termed as a dominating performance."

It's just a vision. One I'd like to share with the Giants in September. I hope Eli, Romo and McNabb are all having a little trouble sleeping these days...